Gymnasts Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo shared on social media that they were not aware of the welcoming ceremony. Malacañang Palace held a welcoming ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the athletes from the Paris Olympics.
“We weren’t informed about it so we didn’t make it,” Aleah Finnegan stated on her TikTok post.
“I wanted to go but they didn’t tell me about it,” Emma Malabuyo responded when a fan asked her the same question.
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The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Thursday that they invited all Filipino athletes to the event. When questioned about the situation, Assistant Secretary Dale de Vera explained:
“We invited all the Paris Olympians from the Philippines to the ceremony at the Palace. However, to clarify, we sent the invitations through the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, not directly to the athletes.”
He also added that Finnegan and Malabuyo were among the Olympians who went straight to their next competitions.
“We learned that the organizers flew five athletes directly to their next competition.” Ang apat po sa kanila ay lumipad papunta sa US at ‘yung isa naman ay may competition sa Scotland. Kasama po ang ating gymnast na si Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo doon sa mga may competition or pumunta ng US right after the Paris Olympics,” he said.
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The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) assured that all athletes, including those absent from the ceremony, will receive the cash reward. Despite comments from both sides, many people have mixed feelings about Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo’s exclusion.
There have been no further comments from the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines regarding the matter.
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